By René M. Rodríguez-Astacio on Behalf of the CLA Research Award Committee  The pleasures of reading children’s literature extend beyond aesthetic experiences. Powerful storytelling beckons its readers to contemplate, speculate and learn about the world around them, building opportunities to nurture hope, empathy and curiosity for what we observe and experience in both our individual and collective lives. Thus, it becomes an imperative to research how children’s books continue to inspire young readers into imagining what else is possible through captivating storytelling, imagery, and language. Each year, the CLA Research Award supports scholars who are committed to inquiring into significant questions related to the field of children’s literature. Given the advancement of technological tools for creating and accessing texts, its implications on current literacy and creative practices, and ongoing sociopolitical and economic pressures, researchers use these funds to pursue important inquiries on the affordances and challenges of storytelling for children and youth in today’s landscape. Suriati Abas, our 2024 recipient, is using the award funding to inquire into how pre-service teachers can use video picture books read aloud as catalysts for literacy advocacy and social justice education. As highlighted by Suriati, “the novelty of this research lies in its focus on the audiovisual experience of diverse picture books for literacy advocacy. Video picture book read-alouds offer a unique combination of visual, auditory, and sometimes interactive elements, potentially enhancing comprehension and emotional connection in ways that may not be possible through traditional print or audio-only formats.” It’s been a privilege to serve in this committee for the past two years. Connecting and learning with researchers through this avenue goes beyond the grant awarded. It builds mentorship and community in times in which there is a critical need for us to consider the significance of children’s literature both in the field and our civic lives. At a time of political unrest and evolving understandings of digital literacies and storytelling, children’s literature remains a powerful vehicle that reminds us of the power of stories and how it connects us. As Donna Barba Higuera invites us to contemplate in her stellar middle-grade novel The Last Cuentista, the power of storytelling encompasses memory, cultural identity, ways of being, knowledge, empathy, and dreaming—important pillars of what makes us human. As researchers in this field, these very threads inform our roles as researchers in the field of children’s literature. Do you have an inquiry involving the field of children’s literature? We invite you to apply today!
René M. Rodríguez-Astacio is Assistant Professor of English at Fresno State University. He is a member of CLA's Board of Directors and chair of the 2024 CLA Research Award Committee. Comments are closed.
|
Authors:
|
RSS Feed
CLA
About CLA
|
Journal of Children's Literature
Write for JCL
|
ResourcesCLA-sponsored NCTE Position Statements
|
Members-Only Content
CLA Video Library
|
© COPYRIGHT 2018.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |